System and method for providing data to a wireless communication device

ABSTRACT

A system and method allowing a mobile device user to initiate a transaction over the most widely used network such as a CDMA or GSM network and then have the device complete the transaction over a specialized data network such as Wi-Fi. The system includes a server communicating with a wireless device that maintains indexed data from the user&#39;s original transaction to ensure integrity through the completion of the transaction. The system also includes a method for the user to purchase content, download the content and upon successful completion, have it appropriately billed.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/761,509, filed Jan. 24, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the sale of digital contentover existing networks to mobile devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Voice networks such as CDMA and GSM networks provide wide coverage forvoice communication using mobile telephones. Although existing wirelesstelephony networks are optimized for voice communication, they may alsoprovide somewhat limited data communication in various forms, such asinstant messenger (IM) or short message service (SMS).

As understood herein, other wireless networks such as WiFi have alsobeen provided that are oriented toward broader bandwidth wireless datacommunication and that can be used to, e.g., exploit the multimediacapability of many wireless telephones, but these networks typically arelimited by hotspot coverage. The present invention understands thatnonetheless, it would desirable to permit a user to purchase titles fromthe abundance of digital content available on the Internet any time theuser likes without waiting for hot spot coverage, despite the difficultyin delivering content to mobile devices over telephony networks that areoptimized for voice, not data, communication. Furthermore, the presentinvention understands the desirability for providing these featureswithout requiring a user to purchase extra services beyond those thatmost users typically buy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In non-limiting terms, a wireless communication device such as a mobiletelephone can purchase digital content using a voice-optimized telephonynetwork that, owing to its relatively narrow band, is not optimized todownload large amounts of data such as multimedia streams. Then, whenthe wireless communication device establishes communication with a widerband data network, the transaction can be completed by downloading thedigital content over the wider band network. Thus, in non-limitingimplementations the wireless communication device can use, e.g., amessaging protocol such as short message service (SMS) or instantmessenger (IM) that might be available on the voice optimized network(such as CDMA or GSM) to engage first part of a transaction to search,identify and purchase digital content, and then may consummate thetransaction at such time as the wireless communication device enters thecoverage area of a data network such as WiFi.

To coordinate these activities, a server on the Internet can communicatewith both networks and thus is capable of communicating with thewireless communication device on either network to broker thetransaction. The server might use a request and acknowledgement methodto execute the necessary commands to complete the first part of thetransaction. The server might also maintain a list of items purchased bythe user. Predetermined events can trigger a data call on the broadbandnetwork to the broker server. After exchanging the purchased items listto confirm the transaction, the device and the server can proceed todownload the digital content to the device and follow it with anappropriate billing action that may be done in non-limitingimplementations with the carrier's billing system.

Accordingly, a wireless communication device includes a processorexecuting logic that includes generating, using a voice-optimizedwireless telephony network, an order for content. The logic alsoincludes receiving the content over a wireless data-optimized network.

In non-limiting implementations the generating act can be undertakenusing SMS or IM, and the voice-optimized wireless telephony network mayinclude a CDMA and/or GSM link. The wireless data-optimized network mayinclude, without limitation, a WiFi link. In any case, a user of thewireless communication device may search for and purchase digitalcontent using a messaging protocol of the voice-optimized wirelesstelephony network, with the downloading being undertaken without userinteraction.

In another aspect, a system includes a wireless communication device, abroker server, and a voice-optimized wireless telephony network. Thesystem also includes a wireless data-optimized network, and the wirelesscommunication device communicates with the broker server using thevoice-optimized wireless telephony network to order digital content fordownload over the wireless data-optimized network.

In yet another aspect, a method is disclosed that includes using awireless communication device to submit a purchase order for digitalcontent over a voice-optimized wireless telephony network, and thenconsummating the purchase order using a wireless data-optimized network.

In still another aspect, a broker server executes logic that includesreceiving, from a wireless communication device, a purchase order fordigital content over a voice-optimized wireless telephony network, andcausing the purchase order to be satisfied using a wirelessdata-optimized network.

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure andoperation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a non-limiting implementation of thepresent system;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the ordering logic executed over avoice-optimized telephony network; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the transaction consummation logic that isexecuted over a wider band data-optimized network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a system is shown, generally designated10, that includes one or more wireless communication devices 12 (only asingle wireless communication device shown for clarity) such as awireless telephone with associated processor 12 a and one or more brokerservers 14 that communicate with the Internet 16. Content servers 18that store digital content and billing servers 20 that undertake thebilling below may also communicate with the Internet 16, it beingunderstood that a single server or more than three servers may functionto provide the functionality described herein.

As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless communication device 12 communicateswith a voice-optimized wireless telephony network 22 (schematicallyrepresented in FIG. 1 by a telephony tower). Without limitation, thevoice-optimized wireless telephony network 22 may include wireless CDMAlinks and/or wireless GSM links. Additionally, the wirelesscommunication device 12, when in an appropriate coverage area,wirelessly communicates with a wireless data-optimized network thatincludes access points 24 (only one access point 24 shown for clarity).Without limitation, the wireless data-optimized network can include WiFilinks, or Bluetooth links, etc.

Now referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, while the present logic is illustratedin flow chart form, it is to be understood that in implementation it canbe implemented in any appropriate form, e.g., in state logic. The logicmay be executed at least in part by the processor 12 a of the presentwireless communication device as a software application that is separatefrom the embedded chip drivers typically included in wirelesstelephones, or that may be integrated into the chip.

Commencing at block 26, the wireless communication device 12 may contactthe broker server 14 using the voice-optimized wireless telephonynetwork 22 using, without limitation, a messaging protocol such as SMSor IM or push to talk. To this end, the broker server 14 may act as amobile device on the voice-optimized wireless telephony network 22 andmay have a phone number to which the messages can be sent and from whichresponses can be returned. In non-limiting implementations, request andresponse communication between the server 14 and the wirelesscommunication device 12 can cover functional areas such as keywordsearches for digital content and particular requests to purchase digitalcontent such as music. Thus, at block 28 the server 14 may providemetadata such as a list of available multimedia content in, e.g., thecontent server 18 to the wireless communication device 12 in response toSMS keyword queries from the wireless communication device 12. To permitthe wireless communication device 12 to parse the content of themessages from the server 14, a XML-type tagged language may be used innon-limiting implementations.

At block 30, the user of the wireless communication device 12 selectscontent for purchase as desired using the voice-optimized wirelesstelephony network 22. A log or other data structure of the selectedcontent is maintained in synchronization at both the wirelesscommunication device 12 and the broker server 14. The log can include,e.g., transaction identifications, content names, etc. This helps ineliminating any errors in the purchase transaction and ensures integrityin completing the second part of the transaction.

The broker server 14 can interact with any server on the Internet tofulfill the requests from the wireless communication device 12, forexample, by interacting with the content server 18 to search andretrieve music that relates to keywords that may have been received fromthe wireless communication device 12 using, e.g., SMS queries. Any typeof content servers are contemplated herein, including content serverscontaining books, music, ring tones, news stories, videos, etc. Asstated above, once the user has purchased content over thevoice-optimized wireless telephony network 22, the broker server 14 andthe wireless communication device 12 synchronize between them the listof items purchased and end the session.

Now referring to FIG. 3, the logic for transferring purchased content tothe wireless communication device 12 commences at block 32 upon theoccurrence of a download initiation event. Without limitation, adownload initiation event may include one or more of the following:detection at the wireless communication device 12 of entering into acoverage area of the wireless data-optimized network 24; elapse of await period; engagement of the wireless communication device 12 with abattery charging device; and energization of the wireless communicationdevice 12. Thus, the digital content may be downloaded automaticallywithout user interaction.

Moving to decision diamond 34, the wireless communication device 12determines, using its log, whether any open (unfulfilled) purchasesexist. In one implementation the broker server 14 and wirelesscommunication device 12 match their logs and download items that bothdevices agree remain open. In the event of a conflict (typically becausethe log in the wireless communication device 12 is incomplete), the login the server 14 is regarded as a master purchase list and trumps anyincomplete list on the device 12.

If no open entries exist, the logic ends at state 36, but otherwise thelogic moves to decision diamond 38 to determine whether the wirelesscommunication device 12 is in communication with the wirelessdata-optimized network 24. It is to be understood that the test atdecision diamond 38 can include determining whether the wirelesscommunication device 12 is configured for wireless data-optimizednetwork communication, whether the user is authorized to access thewireless data-optimized network, etc.

If the test at decision diamond 38 is positive, the logic flows to block40 to download, over the wireless data-optimized network 24, the contentindicated in the log. At block 42 billing data may be generated by,e.g., the billing server 20 in response to billing information from thebroker server 14. The billing server 20 may be the billing server of thewireless telephony carrier associated with the wireless communicationdevice 12. Confirmation of successful download may be provided prior tobilling.

While the particular SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DATA TO A WIRELESSCOMMUNICATION DEVICE as herein shown and described in detail is fullycapable of attaining the above-described objects of the invention, it isto be understood that it is the presently preferred embodiment of thepresent invention and is thus representative of the subject matter whichis broadly contemplated by the present invention, that the scope of thepresent invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may becomeobvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the presentinvention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than theappended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is notintended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, butrather “one or more”. It is not necessary for a device or method toaddress each and every problem sought to be solved by the presentinvention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore,no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure isintended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether theelement, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims.Absent express definitions herein, claim terms are to be given allordinary and accustomed meanings that are not irreconcilable with thepresent specification and file history.

1. A wireless communication device, comprising: a processor executinglogic comprising: generating, using a voice-optimized wireless telephonynetwork, an order for preexisting digital content, the order includingat least a name of digital content; and receiving the content over awireless data-optimized network.
 2. The wireless communication device ofclaim 1, wherein the generating act is undertaken using SMS.
 3. Thewireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the generating act isundertaken using IM.
 4. The wireless communication device of claim 1,wherein the voice-optimized wireless telephony network includes at leastone CDMA link.
 5. The wireless communication device of claim 1, whereinthe voice-optimized wireless telephony network includes at least one GSMlink.
 6. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein thewireless communication device is a wireless telephone.
 7. The wirelesscommunication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless data-optimizednetwork includes at least one WiFi link.
 8. The wireless communicationdevice of claim 1, wherein a user of the wireless communication devicemay search for and purchase digital content using a messaging protocolof the voice-optimized wireless telephony network.
 9. The wirelesscommunication device of claim 1, wherein the downloading act isundertaken without user interaction.
 10. A system, comprising: at leastone wireless communication device; at least one broker server; at leastone voice-optimized wireless telephony network; and at least onewireless data-optimized network; wherein the wireless communicationdevice communicates with the broker server using the voice-optimizedwireless telephony network to order, using short message service (SMS)and/or instant messaging (IM), multimedia content for download over thewireless data-optimized network, the download occurring automaticallyupon a detection at the wireless communication device of being engagedwith a battery charging device.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein thevoice-optimized wireless telephony network is associated with a billingserver, the billing server being used to generate accounting data inresponse to downloading content to the wireless communication deviceover the wireless data-optimized network.
 12. The system of claim 10,wherein the voice-optimized wireless telephony network includes at leastone CDMA link.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the voice-optimizedwireless telephony network includes at least one GSM link.
 14. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the wireless communication device is awireless telephone.
 15. The system of claim 10, wherein the wirelessdata-optimized network includes at least one WiFi link.
 16. A method,comprising: using a wireless communication device to submit a purchaseorder for digital content including audio-video content over avoice-optimized wireless telephony network; and consummating thepurchase order using a wireless data-optimized network, the consummatingoccurring automatically upon a energization of the wirelesscommunication device.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein theconsummating act includes downloading the digital content, and isundertaken automatically without user interaction.
 18. The method ofclaim 16, comprising allowing a user of the wireless communicationdevice to search for and purchase digital contant using a messagingprotocol of the voice-optimized wireless telephony network.
 19. Themethod of claim 16, wherein the voice-optimized wireless telephonynetwork includes at least one GSM and/or CDMA wireless link.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the wireless data-optimized network includesat least one WiFi link.
 21. A broker server executing logic comprising:receiving from a wireless communication device via SMS or IM a purchaseorder for a title of multimedia digital content over a voice-optimizedwireless telephony network; and causing the purchase order to besatisfied using a wireless data-optimized network.